When I first moved to South Korea to study, I didn’t think much about food from my home country.
But over time, I started to. When it peaked, the craving was almost overwhelming.
For some, the distance from home makes satisfying the craving even harder. I was just a six-hour flight away, but what about those who are 16 hours away?
For Samuel Chan, a Hong Kong native and PhD candidate in Political Science at Columbia University, that’s a reality and why he’s always on the hunt for good dim sum in New York City.
“Studying here, there’s a lot of food from back home,” Chan says. “But it can get so expensive that I don’t eat out much. If I do, there are a couple of reasonably priced places I’d visit.”
Thankfully, New York City is one of the few cities outside of Asia where you can find almost-authentic Asian cuisine — Chan’s favourite, dim sum, included — if you know where to look.
To help narrow it down, Chan has listed his 10 best restaurants for dim sum in New York City to cure your homesickness at student-friendly prices.
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10 best restaurants for dim sum in New York City that taste like home:
1. Moon Kee Restaurant
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (11:30 a.m. to 10p.m.) and Saturday to Sunday (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.4 stars (242 reviews)
Location: 2642 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, US
Recommended by Chan himself, Moon Kee Restaurant stands out as one of the few spots in New York City serving truly authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum.
“It’s on Broadway, close to Columbia University,” Chan says. “I’ve brought my cohorts there, and they like it. The food is a little more expensive than what I can get back home, of course, but it’s still a taste of home.”
Moon Kee offers a wide-ranging menu that goes beyond dim sum, including hearty soups, congee, noodle dishes, claypot rice, and classic Cantonese mains.
Their dim sum selections are priced between US$7 and US$8 per dish.
For students on a budget, the US$14 lunch special is a solid deal. It comes with white rice, vegetable spring rolls, your choice of hot & sour or egg drop soup with sweet corn, and a meat dish of your choice — a comforting, satisfying meal that hits close to home without breaking the bank.
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2. Excellent Dumpling House (三六九餐厅)
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (11a.m. to 1a.m.)
Google reviews: 4.4 stars (1,999)
Location: 165 W 23 St, New York, NY 10011, US
Founded on an “American Dream,” Excellent Dumpling House (三六九餐厅) has been serving up one of the best dim sum in New York for over 40 years since 1983.
The restaurant offers a diverse selection of dim sum dishes, including steamed shrimp dumplings, wontons, siu mai, and steamed roasted pork buns, priced from US$4.85 to US$11.95.
The best part? It’s served throughout the night till 1 a.m. — perfect for those needing to pull all-nighters.
Lunch specials are available too, at just US$11.50 for a main dish of your choice, vegetable fried rice, cold noodle, and a selection of hot & sour or corn egg drop soup.
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3. AweSum DimSum
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (8a.m. to 9p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday (9:30a.m. to 9p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.6 stars (2,941 reviews)
Location: 160 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010, US and 612 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018, US
AweSum DimSum is a self-service dim sum restaurant. If you’re a student who’s often on the move, this is the best restaurants for dim sum in New York for you.
There’s a variety of steamed rice rolls, shrimp har gow, siu mai, dumplings, scallion pancakes, spring rolls, and baked roast buns. For those with a sweet tooth, the restaurant serves a mango pomelo dessert bowl and egg tarts.
Prices of dishes range from US$5.95 to US$16.75.
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4. Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (11a.m. to 10:30p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.7 stars (2,268 reviews)
Location: Five locations
Famous for their made-to-order xiao long bao, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao has been serving up one of the “best soup dumplings” and dim sum in New York City.
The restaurant has been serving authentic Southern Chinese cuisine and comfort food since 2006. Today, they have five locations in the city and have won the Michelin Guide recommendation for nine consecutive years since 2009.
In addition to its famous soup dumplings, the chef-recommended dishes include pan-fried pork buns, pan-fried dumplings, siu mai, and crispy shredded turnip ham puffs.
Prices start at US$9.50 and go up to US$16.
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5. DAO Dim Sum & Chinese Cuisine
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (11a.m. to 10p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.8 stars (1,136 reviews)
Location: 177 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016, US
Located on Madison Avenue, DAO Dim Sum and Chinese Cuisine is a relatively new restaurant for dim sum in New York City. And as new as it is, the restaurant has already raked up 4.8 stars with over 1,136 Google reviews.
It is well-known for its dim sum platter, Mongolian beef, wonton soup, and chicken lo mein. To pair with your meals, DAO offers US$4 happy hour beer.
The dim sum served at the restaurant ranges from US$6.99 to US$15.99. However, if you’re looking to dine on their traditional Chinese dishes, the prices aren’t particularly affordable for international students on a budget. Prices start from US$20.
@broadwayfoodcourt Hot, crispy, and seriously addictive. Taste Point Dim sum House is bringing the flavor-think golden dumplings, sizzling bites, and classic street food vibes you can’t resist Whether you’re snacking solo or sharing with friends, this is your next foodie stop. Broadway Food Court – 447 Broadway, New York,NY 10013 #foodcourt #newyork #newyorkny #NYCFoodie #newyorkcity #nyceats #ny ♬ GRR – Fantomel
6. Taste Point Dim Sum House
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (11a.m. to 8:30p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.9 stars (68 reviews)
Location: 447 Broadway, New York, NY 10013, US
Hidden away in Broadway Food Court, Taste Point Dim Sum House serves up authentic, handcrafted dim sum right here in the heart of SoHo, New York City.
From juicy dumplings and steamed buns to flavourful noodle soups and fried noodles, the restaurant offers you a quick pick-me-up after a long day in classes.
The prices of the meals start from US$7.95 to US$14.95. Plus, you’ll also be able to build-your-own three-entree combo (steamed rice, any three dishes, and a bottled water) for just US$14.95.
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7. Jin Mei Dumpling
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (11a.m. to 8:30p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.7 stars (702 reviews)
Location: 25B Henry St B, New York, NY 10002, US
Fifteen dumplings for just US$5 and 10 steamed pork buns for the same price? You heard that right. Hidden away on Henry Street near the edge of Chinatown, Jin Mei Dumpling has quietly built a loyal following for its incredibly affordable and delicious eats.
While it doesn’t serve traditional dim sum in the cart-pushing, teahouse sense, Jin Mei offers a range of comforting Chinese staples that hit the spot — especially for students craving something warm, filling, and budget-friendly — making it one of the best restaurants for dim sum in New York.
Just one tip: bring cash. This “close to home” restaurant doesn’t accept cards, so come prepared.
8. Dim Sum Sam
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 8a.m. to 9:30a.m.)
Google reviews: 4.7 stars (1,641 reviews)
Location: Four locations (Flatiron, Times Square, FiDi, and Chinatown)
Served in bamboo baskets, Dim Sum Sam is one of the best spots for dim sum in New York. What makes them stand out is how everything is handmade from fresh ingredients, ensuring precision and care through the use of time-honoured techniques to achieve the perfect texture and flavour in every bite.
Prices for their dim sum range from US$2.75 to US$6.95. Must orders here are their roast duck, crispy pork belly, beef tripe with peanut, BBQ roast pork over rice, and shrimp and pork wonton soup.
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